Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-23
THE BICYCLE RACES.

| a SUCCESSFUL MEET.-sLOw TINE on &C
COUNT OF POOR TRACK. CHARLES CRus-
BY's WONDERFUL woRK.-PULL ACCOUNT
or ALL THE RACES.
The Vermont Wheel clubs fourth an
nual tournament came off last Tuesday af-
| ternopn according TO the program previous
~ announced. The races were well ar
ranged and were n success in every way
but one, the only drawback being the poor
condition Of the track The fair committee
had promised to have the track and
grounds in good order, and their failure to
do this was great disappointment 10 the
bicycle boys Fast time was out Of the
question and it is a wonder that no serious
accidents occurred. The only place decent
for riding was on the extreme inside
course and this resolved each race into d
procession. The rider who drew the pole
had great advantage over his opponents,
As it was next 10 impossible to squirt III an
! inch or two Of soft sand. The time made
was exceedingly good under the circum-
stances. The riding Of Chas Crosby was
the feature Of the day. He won every
event in which he started taking three
gold medals and French clock Roland
Andrews of Springfield, Vt, also did re
markedly well winning the five mile state
mann li''h0AAAh anu the Nhitt illllt zap race
The attendance was estimated at between
400 and 500. Music was furnished bv the
Esteyville band. Following were the Off
clals of the day; Referee, l.. F. Thayer
OF West Randolph judges, o. a. Marshall
aud Geo. r. Fox timer, +. A. Hubbard
The first race was the one-half mile l..
A. W. state championship with four start
ers IN this order Crosby, Andrews, Reid
and Taft Crosby took the lead with the
others trailing close behind On the up
per turn Andrews tried for the lead, but a.
he wheeled out Reid shot by on the inside
and took second place. Down the home
stretch Crosby set a rafting pace and
crossed the tape first, half length ahead
OF Reid, with Andrews and Taft close be-
hind. Crosbys time was .324. Reids
l.32E
Reid, Crosby and Atherton were the only
competitors for the three mile club cham
pionship Reid got the best Of the start.
Crosby soon passed him, but at the mile
Anterior spurted in fine shape and took
up the thankless duty Of pace-making.
The order changed several times after this.
the boys evidently trying to make the race
interesting u the spectators. Crosby final
~ won from Reid 10y magnificent squirt
with Atherton third. Time / 3O4.
Out Of the 10 riders entered only five
came 10 time in the two mile handicap r
T. Smith Of Springfield, Mass, was scratch
man, W. Haven Of Northampton being at
10 yards, W. Sanderson of So Amherst at
100 yards, Fred Gale Of this place aud W
l. Reed oil south Vernon having the gen
erous allowance of one-fOurth ID mile Gale
lost his chances of winning by taking a
header at the start and Haven by a side
fall on the third half smith made A game
fight for first place, but ". L. Reeds han
dicap was too great TO overcome and he
only secured second place, Reed being first
and Sanderson third. Smiths time was
O. So
Hackett Of Hinsdale won the 100 wards
professional foot race as he pleased Alex-
ander Of Leyden second.
The five mile l.. A. ". state champion-
ship brought out Andrews of Springfield
Hubbard and Cressey This was the most
uninterestng race Of all, us Andrews had
everything his own way. Cressey dropped
out on the third lap. Andrews time was
Is 33f, Hubbard's Is 40
The one mile open was 10y far the pretti-
est contest of the Afternoon Crosby again
drew the pole, followed by smith. Haven
and Taft. Haven dropped out at the half
The last lap was a hot one between Crosby
and Smith. Down the home stretch they
sPurted, wheel and wheel and it looked as
if the result would be dead heat. but
Crosby held his position and finished half a
length ahead in 3. pot.
Andrews secured the gold watch offered
by +. A. Hubbard to the winner of the |
three mile lap race, taking every lap and |
scoring II points, Smith being second with |
II points and Hubbard last with six. The |
race was procession from start 10 finish |
and was devoid of interest Time, 1902
Crosby went to the front for the fourth |
successive time in the one mile local cham |
pionship in 3.2d. Taft was good second |
and Estey third. Reid and Atherton drop- |
ped out before the finish
Fred Cressey had a walk over in the one |
mile consolation, Miller being second. Ath- |
erton third and Gale last.
During the races Capt. F. T. Reid GIVE |
one mile unicycle exhibition.
In the evening large number of 'cy- /
clers gathered at the rooms of the wheel |
club, when the distribution of prizes took |
place, followed by pleasant social time.
IL Is expected that next year the bicycle .
club viii build a quarter mile track nearer
the village the grounds also being used
Tor ball playing. The island would be u |
convenient location.
Crosby's riding was a wonderful i'm
provement over his last years work. He
showed all the traits of "a promising racer
and with proper training would make
things lively for the fastest amateurs
Il. b. smith and +. T. Reid were in DOOR
tice -